UN REPORT FUELS GRIT DRUG WAR

OTTAWA -- Justice Minister Anne McLellan says Ottawa will put more money
into the war on drugs.

She was responding yesterday to a UN report that criticized Canada for
being soft on drug crimes.

"It's clear we must do more. That's why we talked in Red Book III and the
speech from the throne about the importance of an enhanced drug strategy
that deals both with supply and demand. We're going to put more resources
toward that."

The Liberal election platform promised a national drug strategy to reduce
the supply of and the demand for drugs, and to crack down on organized crime.

The UN report, released yesterday, said Canadian courts give people
convicted of narcotics charges a slap on the wrist. It cited the growing of
pot indoors, saying it is especially widespread in B.C., where attitudes
toward marijuana are "much more liberal."

McLellan says the drug trade in Vancouver will be a main target.